Part Twelve

 

Elizabeth got back to the post-op room about the time Harmony was waking up. Elizabeth was greatly relieved that Harmony wasn't having any more complications. Harmony smiled slightly when she saw Elizabeth and in a moment caught sight of Luka outside the room. Her smile got larger and she tried to lift her arm to wave. After a few tries, she got her arm up and waved slightly. Luka smiled sadly from outside the post-op. It was very painful to watch Harmony try to wave.

 

Elizabeth motioned to Luka to come in. "I'm going to let Luka come in, okay," she said. "But you can't talk yet. So I don't want you to try. Understand?"

 

Harmony nodded. Luka walked in and sat down next to her.

 

"Come get me if anything happens," Elizabeth instructed. "I'll be in the OR lounge."

 

"Okay," Luka said. Elizabeth left and Luka looked at Harmony. She looked so small lying there. Her dark green eyes were clouded with pain and fear. Her light skin had turned an unearthly alabaster color and her dark hair looked out of place on her pallid cheek. He smiled down at her. "You gave us quite a scare," he said, brushing her bangs off her forehead. She smiled back at him, wishing she could explain how she felt.

 

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Carter entered his house, his footsteps echoed across the tile floor. As far as he could see, no one was up yet. It was a Saturday morning, and his grandparents always slept in on Saturdays. He breathed a sigh of relief and walked up the expansive staircase to his own apartments. He knew his grandparents hated when he didn't call them, but he couldn't help it. He also knew his grandparents wanted him to leave emergency medicine. He couldn't ever do that either. He loved his job too much. Even with all its ups and downs. He scribbled a note explaining what had happened to his grandparents and began to get ready for bed. It was at that time he released how much his back hurt. It was odd, because he had been on a medication that Kerry had given him, but tonight the pain was becoming very intense. He passed by the medicine cabinet many times as he got ready for bed and each time he was tempted. Finally, he flung the door open and grabbed one of his old painkillers - he didn't know why he still had them - and took two. Without thinking about what he had done, he put it away and snuggled into bed. He was too tired to realize what he had done.

 

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Elizabeth sighed as she walked into her house. She set the paper down on the coffee table. She was extremely worn out. It had been a long time since she had pulled an all-nighter like this. She flopped onto the couch and rubbed her temples out of habit.

 

"Busy night?"

 

Elizabeth looked at her fiancé. Mark had a bowl of cereal and was leaning against the doorpost. She smiled softly. "Yeah, you might say that. Harmony got shot last night. I did the operation with Robert," she explained, rolling onto her back on the couch.

 

"Is she okay? We didn't have another Lucy did we?" Mark asked sitting down on an overstuffed chair.

 

"She made it through nicely," Elizabeth said.

 

Mark smiled. "That's good." Elizabeth started to drift off and Mark picked up the paper.

 

Elizabeth opened and eye. "You weren't up all night were you?"

 

"Nah, I went to bed when it became apparent you weren't coming home tonight."

 

"When was that?"

 

"One, maybe."

 

"Ah. What time is it now?"

 

"Seven-ish."

 

"Damn."

 

Mark sighed and opened the paper. "There's an article about Harmony in here," he commented.

 

"Mph," Elizabeth replied.

 

"How about you go upstairs and get some sleep?" Mark suggested, tearing himself from the article.

 

"Fine," Elizabeth muttered and walked upstairs to the bedroom.

 

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Harmony's green eyes fluttered open. It took her a moment to focus them. When she did, the first thing she noticed was Luka.

 

"Hi sleepyhead," he whispered. She smiled and began to try to talk. Luka frowned. "You'd better not try that. They had to trac you, and I'm not sure if your vocal chords are up to snuff yet. You can probably whisper though." She frowned and sighed. Luka decided to change the subject. "You made the front page," he commented, handing her the Chicago Sun Times after she had sat up. Harmony began to read the article.

 

County Hospital Employee Attacked

By: Mallory Kurth

 

Yesterday, County General Hospital ER staff was rocked by the attack of their friend and fellow employee, Doctor Harmony Morris. Doctor Morris, and attending at the hospital was relatively new to the staff. She had come to the hospital in September 2000 from Nairobi, Kenya. At approximately seven-fifteen last night, the young woman was shot by an unknown gunman. The attacker allegedly had entered the building without any cause, demanding that the staff put their hands up. Doctor Morris ran to the nearest telephone to call for help. When the phone was destroyed, she tried to get her cell phone only to be hit. She was rushed into the nearest trauma room where her co-workers worked on her for close to an hour. Then she was rushed to the operating room due to complications.

Detective Harvey Curtis interviewed Kerry Weaver, the Chief of Emergency Services at the hospital, after the attack and found that the assailant was about five-foot six and wore a black ski mask. If any information about this man can be brought forward, please call Detective Curtis at the police station…

 

Harmony looked up from the article, a bewildered look on her face. "This is really boring," she whispered.

 

"I know. But I thought you'd like to see it," Luka said.

 

"Yeah, I'll be sure to put it in my scrapbook," she responded.

 

Luka smiled. "It's good to see you up. We were very worried about you. It didn't look very good for you when they took you up to the OR."

 

"I was so damn scared when I blacked out. I was afraid I would never see you again. God, that was probably the worst thing I have ever experienced in my life!" Harmony admitted, looking up at Luka. "And I mean it. I really do love you."

 

Luka smiled gently down at her. "I love you too," he whispered. They kissed each other passionately.

 

Harmony began giggling. "I bet you never thought you'd be kissing me in the hospital like this today," she said.

 

"I knew I'd be kissing you, I just never thought you'd be in a hospital bed," Luka replied.

 

Harmony laughed again. She was glad she had someone like Luka to help her through her accident.

 

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"Great, you're up," Romano announced, bursting into room 201.

 

Harmony glanced at him. She was hoping for someone a little, um more pleasant. She mentally slapped herself. He did help save your life, she reminded herself.

 

Romano busied himself with checking Harmony's stats. When he was satisfied that they were normal, he turned his attention back to Harmony. She looked tired, and her eyes were dark, just with the events from the last fifty hours. His expression softened and he sat down next to her. "I thought you might want to see this," he said, handing her the case study from her surgery.

 

She smiled. "Thanks." She flipped through the first few pages. "What was the crit count coming into the OR?" she asked with an air of professionally that was odd for someone looking at their own chart.

 

"One sixty."

 

She nodded and glanced through the rest of the study. "Thank-you for giving up your night to work on me. And if you see Elizabeth, tell her thank-you for me."

 

Romano cracked a small smile. "I didn't want to loose the one person who can get the last word with me."

 

Harmony laughed.

 

"I'll want you up in the next few hours," he said.

 

Harmony saluted him. "I can do," she promised as Romano left.

 

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"Can I go to Chicago?" Jessi Johnson asked, looking up from the paper to face Cara.

 

"Why would you want to go to Chicago?" the woman asked. Jessi considered her adoptive mother for a moment. The woman was in her forties, and she always held her mousy brown hair up in a severe bun. Her face was pursed, like she had just eaten a lemon. Cara always got that look when she heard of Chicago, especially when Jessi spoke of it. She hadn't been very happy when Jessi wanted to meet her mother and was even more distraught when Doctor Morris had shown up in Albany to see Jessi. Cara was shocked at how attractive Harmony had become. Disregarding the twenty-year age gap between the two women, Harmony was just more of a nice person. She had told the entire story to Jessi and Jessi had forgiven her. They had even started a friendship. Cara was hoping this relationship would be broken if Harmony forgot Jessi's birthday. But January seventh came and there was a gift for Jessi.

 

"Look at this," Jessi said, showing the paper to Cara. "Mom got shot."

 

Cara grabbed the paper. "Really?" she asked, hoping Jessi wanted to attend the funeral.

 

"She didn't die. I wanted to see her while she's in the hospital," Jessi explained.

 

Cara threw up her hands. "Jess, I'm sorry, we don't have that kind of money…"

 

Jacques Johnson came in. "Don't let her lead you on like that, Jessi. Of course you can go."

 

Jessi pumped her arm. "I'm going to go pack!"

 

As soon as Jessi had ran out of the room, Cara turned on Jacques. "Why did you do that?" she hissed.

 

"Cara, you knew that some day Jessi would get close to her real mother," Jacques began.

 

"She's a slut!"

 

"Harmony? No. She made a mistake. You made mistakes, Cara."

 

Cara rolled her eyes and stormed out of the room, cursing Harmony Morris for turning her family against her.

 

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"Are you serious? Romano wants you up?" Luka asked.

 

Harmony nodded. "Come on, you've got to help me. You don't want me killing myself do you?"

 

Luka sighed. "Fine."

 

"Okay." Harmony began to get up slowly.

 

"You'd better slow down…"

 

"Luka, if I go any slower I'm going to be an old woman before I get out of her," Harmony pointed out.

 

"Put your arm around my shoulders," Luka instructed.

 

"Okay."

 

"Now, I'm going gently lift you up. Ready?"

 

"Yup," Harmony said. Luka lifted her up and she tried to stand, but plopped back onto the bed. She started laughing. "I must look like Bambi or something," she commented. "I didn't know you could get sea legs if you haven't used your legs for a few days."

 

"I guess so."

 

They tried a few more times and finally they got Harmony up. And with a few more tries Harmony was limping around the room.

 

She smiled. "I guess I won't need those crutches after all," she said.

 

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Kerry walked quietly into room 201. Harmony was sitting in a chair, bathed in sunlight and reading. "Hi," she said softly.

 

Harmony looked up. "Good afternoon Kerry. How are things down in the ER?"

 

"Mark's back," Kerry said.

 

"That's great. How's he doing?"

 

"So-so. He mixes up pronouns a lot. Like he'll say where is he when he means she and visa versa. He has mood swings too. It's kinda scary."

 

"Weird. Has the neurologist seen him yet?"

 

"I don't know. How are you doing?"

 

"Pretty good. I can walk around fairly well and pain is relative," Harmony reported.

 

"That's good."

 

Harmony studied Kerry. "You look worried. What's wrong?"

 

Kerry sighed. "Nothing. I'm sorry."

 

"Don't be."

 

"I guess I'm just really worried about you."

 

"I'll be fine," Harmony promised.

 

Kerry smiled. "That I'm sure of. I need to be getting back downstairs. I left Malucci in charge."

 

"Oh, I'm not sure if that was a smart move." Harmony grinned. "See you later Kerry."

 

"Bye."

 

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There was a soft scratching at the door and a little boy came into Harmony's room. "Hi," he said. He was dressed in the scrub-like pajamas all patients wore. He was about five years old and had a shock of dark brown hair.

 

Harmony smiled at him. "Are you lost?"

 

"No. Doctor Corday said I should come visit you. She said you needed someone to come visit you while your friends were at work," the boy said.

 

Harmony nodded. "She was right. What's your name?"

 

"Matt. I'm a heart patient. I've been in hospitals for practically all my life. Doctor Corday is going to fix my heart for good soon," he explained. "How come you're here Doctor Morris?"

 

"Please call me Harmony. I'm here because I was hurt very badly a few days ago and I need to get better."

 

"But I thought doctors couldn't get sick. Or hurt," Matt said, sitting down in another chair.

 

"I'm afraid that isn't always the case," Harmony said. "Do you have any siblings?"

 

"No. Do you?"

 

"I have fourteen."

 

"Wow! Do they all live in Chicago too? Are they all doctors?"

 

"No. I'm the only one who lives in Chicago. And I'm the only one who is a doctor too."

 

"I have a dog," Matt said with pride.

 

"Really? What's his name?" Harmony asked.

 

"Billy Bob. Mom says Dad named him that. I don't know why though. Do you have any pets?"

 

"No. I used to have a cat, but I had to leave him with friends when I moved," Harmony said. The door opened again and this time a nurse poked her head in.

 

"There you are, Matt," she said. "You need to come back to your room."

 

"Can I come back later?" Matt asked.

 

"Yeah, sure," Harmony said with a smile.

 

"I hope he hasn't bothered you, Doctor Morris," the nurse said apologetically.

 

"Oh, no. He was great. Good medicine," Harmony said. "He's welcome to come back any time." She winked at the little boy who grinned back. "See you later Matt."

 

"Bye Harmony," he replied, waving as he left.

 

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Harmony got a number of visitors over the next few days, most were friends who had heard of the attack and dropped by. Thus, most of the people were from Chicago. However, at the beginning of her last week at the hospital, she got an unexpected visitor.

 

"Doctor Morris?"

 

Harmony looked up and beamed. "Bishop. How nice of you to come by," she said.

 

"How are you?" he asked.

 

"I'm doing better than the last time you saw me," she laughed. "Walk with me," she suggested, getting up.

 

"Is it okay for you to do that?"

 

"Yeah, they want to keep the blood circulating," Harmony explained as they left the room. "Plus, I need a change of scenery now and then." She laughed again. "Now I know how my patients feel. How are you?"

 

"I'm slowly getting better," the bishop said. "But this weather isn't helping much."

 

"I know the feeling. I've been in Africa for four years. So, seeing snow is kinda cool. But the sentiment wears out it's welcome very quickly. Right now, I'd love to see some sunshine and grass," Harmony explained. "But we'll be begging for it come July."

 

"That's the truth," the bishop smiled. "How is Doctor Kovac?"

 

"I guess he's handling this well. When I see him, he's fine - I guess. He hasn't really said anything about the night of the accident."

 

"Accident?"

 

"I don't want to call it an attack. Don't ask me why. It's just awkward, I suppose," Harmony explained. "I'm sorry he burst out like that. He doesn't like to see people who have hurt others…turn out on the top, so to say. He was involved in the war in Croatia and he had a couple personal traumas. It's affected him in that way," Harmony continued. By this time they had gotten to the large window at the end of the hall. "How's the temperature out there?" she asked, appreciating something to change the subject to.

 

"Cold. There's a bad wind coming in. Mixed with the one off the lake it's really cold."

 

"Maybe I should be glad that I'm in here," Harmony joked.

 

"Perhaps."

 

"Harmony!"

 

Harmony turned to see Jessi running down the hall. She grinned as the teen got to where she was standing. They embraced and introductions were made.

 

"Did you come her on your own?" Harmony asked.

 

"Nah, Cara came too. Reluctantly," Jessi added. "How are you?"

 

"I'm doing well," Harmony stated for the millionth time. "How are you? Will you be in Chicago long?"

 

"I'm fine. I'm only in Chicago for a few days. Cara wouldn't let me stay any longer."

 

"Why isn't Cara here?" the bishop asked.

 

"We're not on great terms with one another," Harmony explained, as they reentered the room. She shrugged. "And I'm rather glad she's not here."

 

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At long last the day for Harmony to go home arrived. She started to change her clothes. It seemed so strange to pull on the red sweater and black slacks. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Is it just me, or have you changed? She asked herself, pulling on her scarf and leather jacket. She left the room.

 

"Good-bye Doctor Morris," a nurse said, waving to Harmony as she left. Harmony smiled and waved back. She walked out to the parking lot. Her blue bug was waiting for her, just as she had left it. She got in, praying that it would start.

Don't be silly, of course it will start. It's brand new! She began to drive and she thought about her life. It really wasn't supposed to turn out like this. No, it could have been - and almost was - much different.

 

Harmony's family was on of the most prominent in Tucson. They were also one of the richest. As a member of the family, Harmony was expected to follow a career that would heighten the family name. More of a fluff job than real work. She was also expected to be cultured. That's why soon after her third birthday, her mother took her to Madame Huang's violin studio. Madame Huang was a Japanese woman who was a student of Shinzi Susuki himself. She was the best

violin teacher on the west coast, maybe even the entire United States. Thus, it was Harmony began her career as a violinist. Soon, it became apparent that Harmony had a natural talent for the violin. In fact, at the age of five she

performed Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor in concert for the first time. She was quite a natural and she progressed rapidly. When she finished high school, the question of higher education came into play. Harmony's parents wanted her

to continue he musical studies in New York, where there was a prestigious college for serious students. They wanted Harmony to become a professional violinist. Harmony; however, had other ideas. While in high school, she had fallen in love with biology and was considering medicine or some other biological career. After many nights of arguments, it was decided the Harmony would begin premed at Columbia University in New York City. And, after that, Harmony had never considered a musical career again.

 

Driving through Chicago, Harmony remembered those times. After all of this, they seemed a millennium ago. She smiled as parts of the Toccata floated through her mind. Before she knew it, she was back home. Walking into the house, her footsteps echoing, she felt the house was empty. She had missed it, though.

 

"I'm Home!!!!" She yelled at the top of her lungs. She smiled to herself. She hadn't realized how homesick she had really been. It was good to be home.

 

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Luka walked into the house, a bit worried at how Harmony would be. He was greeted by strains of Toccata and Fugue in D minor. He smiled, glad to know that Harmony was back home.